I've learned a couple of things from working as a dishwasher in the camp kitchen this summer. I now know how to de-lime a dishwasher, load a 40-lb bag of milk into a milk machine, and fill up a vending machine. And there's plenty of life lessons to be learned, too.

I've learned humility for sure. There's definitely something humbling about getting on your hands and knees to scrub the walls and dragging the squeaky cart across the rec hall to go clean bathrooms every morning. It's a sort of humility, though, that I think everyone should learn. A lot of people in our society today have far too much pride, and we think "Oh I'm not going to do that." But you know what? I'm not "too good" to do anything; someone is going to have to do it, so why shouldn't it be me?

I've learned that there are two types of adults: the ones that are willing to help clean up messes in the dining hall and the ones that bring their coffee cups to the window twenty minutes after everyone has left. I am so thankful for the adults that take charge and make my job just a little bit easier. As for the other ones, I'll look at it as maybe it's helping me learn patience as well.

I've learned that it takes children about seven times of hearing something before they actually know what you said. Right before each meal I tell the group of kids helping with meal service what they're going to do; each time I tell them multiple times that they need to wait to start cleaning until everyone has gone through the line. However, it never fails, there are always kids at every meal that try to grab rags or brooms to start cleaning right after they finish eating, and every time I have to tell them to wait until everyone has gone through the line and gotten their food.

I've also learned the hearts of children. There's just something so gratifying about hearing a kid say, "Wow, that seems like a lot of work. Thanks for washing all our dishes," or "You're a really nice lunch lady," (yes these are actual quotes from children). To see them eager to help and volunteer makes my heart happy, and having conversations with them through the window is honestly one of the best parts of my day.

Like I've said, I am so thankful for the opportunity to work where I do. It's definitely not the sort of job that one jumps at the chance to have, but it's been one of the best jobs that I've had. Being surrounded by staff that actually cares about you and children that make you laugh (although we dishwashers do get a nice break from the kids too) is what makes this job so great.